Hybrid Chief of Homicide/SDU bei Defender Association of Philadelphia

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We are looking for a Chief to lead our talented team in the Homicide and Special Defense Unit (SDU). This role is responsible for the overall operation of both Homicide and SDU.  The Chief will supervise, manage, and evaluate the Assistant Chief, attorneys, social work mitigators, legal interns, and administrative staff within the unit. The Chief will also assist in developing specialized training for the attorneys rotating into SDU or Homicide for the first time and will assist in developing ongoing trainings to reflect best practices for Homicide/SDU attorneys and mitigators in an ever-changing landscape. The Chief must understand the roles and responsibilities of all staff and be able to identify staffing needs and manage resources particularly when addressing staff shortages and developing plans for long-term needs, as well as planning for possible expansion. The position requires close collaboration with executive leadership, other units’ leadership, court administration, outside stakeholders and community partners to advance the Defender Association’s interests. The start date is January 2026, and the deadline to apply is September 1, 2025. 

What You’ll Do

• Manage the day-to-day operations of both the Homicide and Special Defense Unit.

• Develop and implement procedures and protocols that are necessary to improve departmental efficiency and promote the professional development of the unit’s staff

• Create and foster a unit where attorneys and social work mitigators develop, maintain, and grow the necessary skills to handle high-level, high-stakes cases within the unit, including death-certified cases.

• Supervise, manage, and evaluate performance of lawyers, paralegals, legal interns, and administrative staff within the unit in all aspects of their job duties

• Be available and accessible to answer questions from attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and staff

• Create and maintain databases for unit programs to track relevant data and statistics

• Create and maintain a system to track and assess workload within the unit and across unit members and develop a system where SDU attorneys are provided meaningful ability to work on homicide cases with members of the Homicide Unit.

• Hold regular staff meetings with the unit as a whole and with individual homicide teams.

• Conduct regular 1 on 1 meetings with all unit staff, and complete yearly written performance evaluations

• Prepare and present training programs for attorneys on substantive topics of law and procedure relevant to the practice, including capital case training. 

• Attend meetings with Court Administration, Judges, County and State Officials, and community stakeholders, as needed, to advance the interest of the Defender Association and our clients  

What You’ll Need

• Juris Doctorate Degree required; Admission to PA Bar required

• Seven (7) years of criminal defense experience required, including being 801 Qualified

• Homicide jury trial experience, required

• Experience in managing, training, and development of attorneys, preferred

• Knowledge and familiarity with statutes, caselaw, and best practices related to homicide representation, including familiarity with capital representation

• Must possess the ability to effectively communicate with widely diverse groups, both internally and externally. 

• Ability to travel to courtrooms, community placements, and prisons (including local, non-local and out-of-state)

Benefits & Perks

• Generous and rich benefits plan including choice of affordable medical plans, and employer paid: dental, vision, life insurance, long term disability insurance and professional liability insurance
• Substantial paid time off- close to 35 days off plus all federal holidays
• Retirement Savings Employer Match
• Eight weeks of paid parental leave
• Free Septa Anywhere Key Card
• Public Loan Forgiveness Eligible Employer
• Meaningful Work 
• Wellness Benefits
• Ongoing Training and Development of You
• Access to quality and affordable CLEs

 To apply

Please apply online and include resume, cover letter detailing your interest and experience and a writing sample (no more than 20 pages).

 Who is the Defender Association? 

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is more than just a law firm. We’re the community’s lawyers.

The Defender team – more than 500 attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrators, and other staff – make sure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality defense when facing criminal charges. Our mission-driven, client-centered model focuses on outcomes that support a system that is fundamentally fair and creates safer, stronger communities. Our unique model and approach give our staff with the skills and support they need to get the best outcomes for our clients. Come join our team! For more information, go Defender’s website and follow  us @PhillyDefenders (Twitter, IG, Tiktok) and on LinkedIn. 

The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.